Overview:

The Director of Orientation and First-Year Experience provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for programs that support new students in their transition to college life. This position is responsible for developing, implementing, and assessing comprehensive orientation programs and year-round first-year experience initiatives that foster student engagement, belonging, social life, retention, and academic success. The Director also supports sophomore student engagement. The…

Director serves as a key partner in advancing the institution's commitment to holistic student development and will collaborate closely with colleagues across the College.

Essential Job Functions

Cultivate an inclusive campus experience that facilitates student engagement, social inclusion, intellectual curiosity, and personal exploration in collaboration with students and colleagues. Manage all orientation programs, as well as social programming to support students and their transition to Denison University.

Plan, coordinate, and execute comprehensive new student orientation programs for first-year students and support orientation programs for other student populations.
Collaborate with a broad range of campus stakeholders to design inclusive orientation and sophomore experience content that integrates academic and co-curricular components.
Implement and lead a year-long First-Year Experience (FYE) program designed to promote academic success, social integration, and personal development.
Design and implement assessment tools to evaluate program effectiveness and student outcomes; use data to inform decisions, improve programming, and support retention and student success efforts.
Oversee the staff, general planning, budgets, and assessment of all orientation programs.
Partner with the Provost’s Office to create opportunities for engagement with faculty to support the holistic development of our students as well as support the orientation and academic advising efforts of first-year students.
Service in on-call rotation.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or related field
5+ years of professional experience in higher education/student affairs preferred.
Understanding of how the first-year experience is situated within a selective, rigorous four-year residential college environment.
Knowledge of high-impact practices related to supporting students’ transition to college life.
Awareness of the concerns of parents of traditional-aged college students.
Demonstrated ability to work in collaboration with students, faculty, administrators, parents, & external partners.
Ability to develop strategies, set priorities and handle multiple tasks while meeting deadlines.
Strong project management skills; experience leading meetings; producing/editing publications; excellent analytical, organizational and communication skills.
Experience developing and supervising professional or student-staff.
Ability to be an innovative thinker and problem solver; and effective at developing and implementing solutions.
Able to work independently and carry out assignments and projects without detailed instructions.
Evening and weekend work required, including flexibility of work hours and availability to attend to emergent situations on campus as needed.
Excellent oral and written communication skills and computer skills required. Proficient in Google, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel.

Preferred Qualifications:

7+ years of professional experience in higher education/student affairs preferred.
Prior experience in the preparation and presentation of workshops preferred.

Physical Demands:

Occasionally work long hours, especially during orientation programs.

All applications must include a cover letter and the contact information for a minimum of three professional references at the time of submission.

All applications submitted by May 5th will receive full consideration.

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Director of Orientation and First-Year Experience

Denison University

100 W College St, Granville, OH 43023, USA

Overview:

This is a Preview Listing…

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Director of Orientation and First-Year Experience

Denison University

100 W College St, Granville, OH 43023, USA

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This is a Preview Listing…

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Director of Orientation and First-Year Experience

Denison University

100 W College St, Granville, OH 43023, USA

Overview:

This is a Preview Listing…

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Related Research Grants

Grants to USA Entities for Resource Management Research

Grants to USA Entities for Research on Engineering Systems

Grants to USA Entities for Advanced Materials Research

Grants to USA Entities for Intelligent Dynamic Systems Research

Grants to USA Entities for Civil Infrastructure Research

Grants to USA Entities for Nanochemistry, Supramolecular, and Macromolecular Chemistry Research

Grants to USA IHEs, Nonprofits, and Tribes for Chemistry Research on Life Processes

Grants to USA Entities for Chemical Computational Methods, Models, and Theory Research

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2026 AAA Annual Meeting: On the Verge

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Director of Orientation and First-Year Experience

Denison University